Board of Education

The Hawaii State Board of Education formulates policy and exercises control over the public school and library systems. There are nine Board members, a student council representative and a military liaison. The Board typically meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month (and special meetings as required) to deal with Board business, receive public testimony, hear reports from the Superintendent and Board committees, and express concerns.

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​​​Meeting agendas, minutes

The Board of Education will migrate its website content to the Department's website soon. In the meantime, the Board's meeting agendas and minutes, along with Board policies and other important information, can be found on its website:
http://www.hawaiiboe.net/Pages/Welcome.aspx

Board members

Donald G. Horner,
Chairman, At Large

Donald G. Horner is chairman of First Hawaiian Bank and a board member of the Bank’s parent company, BancWest Corporation. He also serves on the board of Haleakala Ranch Company on Maui. Mr. Horner serves in a variety of volunteer capacities which include board chairman of Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, board member and treasurer of Iolani School, board member emeritus of Mid-Pacific Institute, board member and finance chair of Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, and chair of the Career and Technical Education Coordinating Advisory Council. He is also a member of the University of Hawaii School of Nursing Advisory Council, Filipino Community Center, Hawaii Pastors Roundtable, Foundation for the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, and the Hawaii Asia Pacific Association. Mr. Horner holds an undergraduate degree in business from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1972 to 1976; highest rank was Lt. Commander. He is a licensed pastor and serves as a volunteer staff member of New Hope Diamond Head Church. His appointment is for a three-year term.

Brian J. De Lima,
Vice Chairman, Hawaii County

Brian J. De Lima is an attorney in private practice. He is a former Hawaii County Council member. DeLima is a graduate of Hilo High School and in 1972 he served as the first Board of Education student member. His daughter, who has special needs, attends Hilo High School. De Lima’s appointment is for a two-year term.

Keith Amemiya,
Member, At Large

Keith Amemiya is currently the Senior Vice-President at Island Holdings, Inc. He has also served as the executive administrator and secretary to the Board of Regents at the University of Hawaii and as the executive director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association. Mr. Amemiya was a member of a number of boards including the Honolulu Firefighters Foundation, Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Susannah Wesley Community Center, and The Learning Coalition. His appointment is for a three-year term.

Amy Asselbaye,
Member, Oahu

Asselbaye is the Director of Strategic and Community Development at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and a small business owner. She served as a congressional staffer, including Chief of Staff, to Governor and Congressman Neil Abercrombie and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Asselbaye served as school community council chair at Wailupe Elementary School and is currently a parent representative on the school community council for Aina Haina Elementary School where her three children attended school.

Nancy Jo Yamakawa Budd,
Member, Kauai

Nancy Jo Yamakawa Budd is an attorney in private practice. She has a long history of service supporting public education and youth, including as founding member, director and President of the King Kaumualii Elementary and Kauai District PTSAs, as a judge with the Fifth Circuit Teen Court program, as a reading tutor at Wilcox Elementary School, and as a member of the Keiki to Career Leadership Council. She has served on charitable and civic boards and foundations, including the Hawaii Justice Foundation, Hawaii Community Foundation Kauai Leadership Council and The Salvation Army. Budd’s daughter graduated from Kauai High School and is a high school teacher on Kauai. Her appointment is for a three-year term.

Grant Y.M. Chun,
Member, Maui

Chun is vice president of A&B Properties Inc. and the former managing director of the County of Maui. He is a practicing attorney and brings a strong background in administration and law to the position. Active in the community, Chun serves on the board of directors for A Keiki’s Dream, Alexander and Baldwin Foundation, Maui Chinese Cultural Society, Maui Economic Development Board, and Maui Economic Opportunity, as well as on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of American Maui County Council, on the Maui Regional Board of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, and on the Chancellor’s Advisory Council for UH Maui College. He is also a life member of the Maui Young Business Roundtable. Chun earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and public relations from the University of Southern California. He also holds a law degree from the University of California – Hastings College of the Law.

Patricia Halagao,
Member, At Large

Halagao is an Associate Professor in Curriculum Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education. She also serves as the lead in developing educational initiatives for the proposed Obama Presidential Center. She was recently awarded the UH Board of Regents Medal for Excellence in Teaching in 2012. Halagao is helping to coordinate education programming for the Hokulea’s worldwide voyage. She was previously a teacher in the Oakland Public Schools system.

Cheryl Kauhane Lupenui,
Member, Oahu

Cheryl Kauhane Lupenui is currently the principal and founder of The Leader Project. Formerly, she was the CEO of the YWCA of Oahu. She currently serves on the boards of Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Hawaiian Resource Advisory Board; the Center for Asian Pacific American Women, and the Hogan Entrepreneurs Board. Lupenui’s appointment is for a three year term.

Jim D. Williams,
Member, Oahu

Jim D. Williams is a retired administrator and CEO of the Hawaii Employer-Union Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF). Currently, he is the vice chair of Voyager Public Charter School, and previously served as president and CEO of Royal State Learning Foundation; interim director and president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association; and teacher at Kauanakakai Elementary School and Molokai High School. Williams’ appointment is for a three-year term.

Danson Honda,
Student Representative

Danson, a senior at Pearl City High School, is a state medalist in cross country and is part of the Pearl City Charger Marching Band as a drum major. He represented his school on the Hawaii State Student Council, and will be counted on to provide valuable feedback to the BOE with his insight from students across the state.​ Danson will serve a one-year term. Click for story.